Fig. 3.
Neural correlates of processing highly rewarding music. (A) Spatial conjunction analysis between [11C]raclopride positron emission tomography and fMRI while listeners heard their selected pleasurable music revealed increased hemodynamic activity in the ventral striatum (VS) during peak emotional moments (marked by “chills”), and the dorsal striatum (DS) preceding chills, in the same regions that showed dopamine release. Adapted from ref. 74. (B) fMRI scanning showing that the best predictor of reward value of new music (as marked by monetary bids in an auction paradigm) was activity in the striatum, particularly the NAcc; the NAcc also showed increased functional connectivity with the superior temporal gyri (STG) and the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) as musical stimuli gained reward value. Adapted from ref. 94.